Stoppering element



United States Patent Office 3, ,75l7 Patented July 20, 1965 3,195,757 STOPPERING ELEMENT Merle T. Creamer, 1849 E. Stuart St, and Arthur J. Guest, 517 E. Grove St, both of Pomona, Calif. Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser- No. 35%,846 6 Claims. (Cl. 215-73) This invention relates to a stoppering device and relates more particularly to a device for closing the neck of a bottle or the like which is formed of a particular material and in a particular manner to provide optimum sealing properties.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a stoppering element formed of a polyvinyl chloride resin which has been surprisingly found to have exceptional adhesive-like attraction to a smooth surfaced material such as the glass of a bottle neck or the neck tube or pouring tube of a conventional liquid dispenser pouring spout.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a stoppering device of the type described which requires no mechanical means such as slots, grooves, protuberances or the like to hold it in place on the neck tube of a conventional automatic pouring spout whereby the stoppering element will be retained thereon through repeated engagement of the stoppering element with the neck of bottles with which the pouring spout is utilized.

further object of the instant invention is the provision of a stoppering element which provides an excellent vacuum seal and which may be manufactured in any of a variety of attractive colors.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a stopperlng device which is more flexible than the conventional cork or rubber stoppers utilized heretofore and WhlCll does not affect the taste of the liquid in the bottle which it seals.

Yet another object of the instant invention is the provision of a stoppering device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and utilize.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a stoppering device which is resistant to deterioration and degradation by heat, ultraviolet light and a large number of chemical compositions.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a stoppering element which may be utilized to seal the open neck of a bottle or the like or to cap a pouring tube of a conventional liquid dispenser carried by the bottle.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a stoppering device of the type described which will readily seal bottles having a large variance in the internal diameter of their neck portion and which may be deeply inserted into a small bottle neck while still providing an effective seal for a bottle having a larger neck size.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of such a stoppering element which may be readily inserted into a bottle neck to a predetermined distance whereby the stoppering element itself or a conventional liquid dispenser carried thereby would protrude from the bottle to a uniform height.

Other and further objects reside in the combination and arrangement of parts, and the features of mutual construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a stoppering element in accordance with the instant inventive concept showing the same carried by the neck tube of a conventional pouring spout and sealingly engaged in the'neck portion of a bottle, neck portions of bottles of larger diameter being shown in dotted lines, and parts being broken away for illustrative clarity and convenience; 7

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the first embodiment taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing an end of the stoppering element and a cross-section of a pouring spout;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view in partial section showing a second embodiment of the stoppering element;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3 showing an end view of the second embodiment of the stoppering element, and a cross-section of a pouring spout; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational View of a third embodiment of the stoppering element in partial sectional view, and in accordance with the instant inventive concept, showing the stoppering element sealingly engaging the neck portion of a bottle or the like and also as capping a pouring tube of a conventional liquid dispenser, parts being broken away for illustrative clarity and convenience.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in general, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, a stoppering device in accordance with the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and is comprised basically of a polyvinyl chloride resin, the preferred material being a dispersion of polyvinyl chloride resin in a blend of liquid plasticizers stabilized against degradation by heat or ultraviolet light such as manufactured by the Plas-Kem Corporation. This material is available clear or in colors and is cured at a temperature of approximately 350 F. for approximately 10 minutes for each a inch of thickness. It has a medium viscosity, a hardness between approximately 60 and 64 Shore-A, a tensile strength of approximately 2500 p.s.i., an elongation of approximately 43G% and a density of approximately 1.2. In addition to its chemical resistance to de terioration and degradation by heat and ultravioletrlight, this material will withstand extended contact with the following chemical materials:

Acetic acid, 5% Alcohol, methyl Alcohol, ethyl Alcohol, butyl Alum Alumina Aluminum chloride Aluminum fluoride Aluminum hydroxide Aluminum sulfate A m m o n i u m hydrox- Arsenic acid Asphalt Barium carbonate Barium chloride Barium hydroxide Barium sulfate Barium sulfide Beer Beet sugar liquors Benzoic acid Black liquor sulfate pro- Ammonium nitrate Ammonium sulphate Ammonium triphosphate Ammonium thiocyanate Aniline Aniline oil Aniline dyes Calcium carbonate Calcium chloride Calcium hydroxide Calcium hypochlorite Calcium sulfate CalgOrl Can sugar syrups' Carbonated water Castor oil China wood oil (tung) Chlorox Chrornic acid, cold Cider Citric acid Coconut oil Coffee Copper chloride Copper nitrate Copper sulfate Corn oil Cornstarch slurry Cottonseed oil Cresols-cresylic acid Diesel oil, light Diethylene glycol Distilled Water Ethylene glycol 1 Fatty acids Ferric chloride Ferric sulfate Ferrous chloride Ferrous sulfate Natural gas Nickel acetate Filter acid (diatomaceous p earth) Fish oil Fluoboric acid Fluosilicic' acid Formaldehyde. Formic acid Fruit juices Gelatin Glaubers salt Glucose, edible Glue Glycerol Hydrobrom-ic acid Hydrochloric acid, cold :Hydrocyanic acid Hydrofiuoric acid Hydrofiuorosilicic acid Hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen sulfide solutions Ink Iodoform Isop-ropy-l ether Ketchup Lactic acid Lead acetate Lead nitrate Lime slurry Lime sulfun Linseed oil Magnesium chloride Magnesium hydroxide Magnesium oxide Magnesium sulfate Malei-c acid Malic acid Malt beverages Mayonnaise Melamine resins Mercury Mercury salts Mills Mine water Mineral Water, USP.

Motor oil Molasses Mustard Nalco solutions (Zeolite cation exchangers) phates Potassium permanganate Potassium phophates (acid) Potassium phosphates (alkaline) Potassium sulfate Potassium triphosphate Prestone Rayon spin bath Rosin (emulsion) Salicylic acid Santomerse Sea water Silver nitrate Sizing (acid) Sizing (alkaline) Sodium acetate Sodium acid sulfate Sodium aluminate Sodium bicarbonate Sodium bisulfate Sodium :bisulfite Sodium borate Sodium carbonate Sodium chloride Sodium chromate Sodium cyanide Sodium, dichromate Sodium diphosphate Sodium fluoride Sodium hydroxide,

-20% Sodium hypochlorite Sodium metaphosphate Sodium metasilicate Sodium m-onophosphate Sodium nitrate Sodium nitrite Sodium perborate Sodium peroxide Sodium plumbite' Sodium polyphosphate Sodium silicate Sodium sulfate Sodium sulfide Sodium sulfite Sodium tetraborate Sodium thiosulfate 4 Starch Trisodium phosphate Steam condensate Vingear Sugar solution-s Whiskey Sulphuric a c-id, 010% Wines Sulphuric acid, 10-70% Zeolite Zinc acetate Sulphuric acid (spent) Zinc ammonium Sulphurous acid Talc slurry chloride Tannic acid Zinc chloride Tannin Zinc, sulfate Tartaric acid Zinc sulfate (acid) portion 16' of a bottle or the like 18, usually smooth .sur-

faced such as glass. A portion of a neck tube 26 in the form of a smooth surfaced hollow tube is circumscribingly engaged by the smooth bore portions of the stoppering element 10; V

A suitable neck tube 20 for use with the stoppering element may be part ofa conventional liquid dispenser pouring spout, utilized for pouring predetermined servings of a liquid from the bottle 18. This necktube is comparable to element 14 in the US. Patent No. 3,097,769, issued July 16, 1963, to Paynerelement 15 in the US. Patent No. 2,678,757., issued May 18, 1954, to McPhee; and element 11 in the US. Patent No. 2,667,290, issued Janu ary 26, 1954, to McPhee.

g the smooth surface of the hollow tube 20. In fact, the

stoppering element 10 cannot be simply removed from the neck tube 20 by grasping its outer diameter and, pulling. In order to remove the stoppering element 10 therefrom, it is necessary to press inwardly on the ends of the same in the direction of the arrows 22 in FIGURES 1 and 2 thereby breaking the engagement with the neck tube 20 as indicated by the dotted lines 24 in these figures and pushing the stoppering element 14 off the free end of the neck tube 29. Due to the slight taper of the outer peripheral surface of the stoppering element 10 and further due toits resilience, it will also function to sealingly engage larger neck portions such as 16a and 16b of bottles or the like.

bodiment of a stoppering element is shown. This is preferably formed of the'same polyvinyl chloride material, and is designated generally by the reference numeral 30. It possesses portions defining a smooth central bore 32 circumscribingly engaginga convention-a1 neck tube 29 in a manner similar to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2. This second modification includes an outer frusto-conical wall member 34 having an outer peripheral surface 36 engageable with the neck of a bottle such as 16, 16a and 16b in FIGURE 1-, and an inner wall member 38 secured to or monolithic with, the outer wall member 34 only at the end 40 of the stoppering element 30. The inner wall member 38 is radially spaced from the outer wall member 34 over a substantial portion of its length to define therebetween a peripheral void 42, whereby the stoppering element 30 may be inserted more or less deeply into the neck of a bottle with about equal tightness.

FIGURE 5 shows a third embodiment of a stoppering element in accordance with theinstant inventive concept; This latter embodiment is designated generally by the reference numeral 50" and preferably it is comprised of the same material as the first embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2. This third embodiment includes outer and inner Walls'52, 54 defining a peripheral void 56 therebetween as in the second embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, to facilitate insertiongof the same into the neck portion of a In the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 a second embottle or the like as shown in dotted lines. A stiffening head 58 is provided to strengthen the stoppering element 59, and the end portion 6 of the same is exteriorly crowned and closed. The end portion 66 in conjunction with the smooth central bore 62 together define a cap or sealing means to cover the open end 64 of a hollow pouring tube shown in dotted lines at 66 forming part of the conventional liquid dispenser (not shown). This latter pouring tube 66 is comparable to element 2% in the above-mentioned Payne patent, or element 13 in the first-mentioned McPhee patent, and or element 26 in the second-mentioned McPhee patent. Thus, it can be seen that the embodiment of FIGURE 5 will function as an internal stopper to close the neck portion of a bottle or the like and will also function as an external cap to close the open end of a pouring tube carried by a conventional automatic liquid dispenser pouring spout.

The use and operation of the stoppering elements of the instant invention is apparent from the above structural explanations and descriptions, and from the drawings. In the drawings, the characteristic environment for each embodiment is shown in dashed lines, and the stoppering element is shown in full lines.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved stoppering element which satisfies the objectives of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of notable practical utility and commercial importance.

Varied embodiments may be made from the instant specific inventive concept, and many modifications may be made from the three particular embodiments hereinbefore shown and described. It is intended that all matter herein be interpreted merely as illustrative rather than limiting, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

We claim:

1. In a device for closing the neck of a material containing bottle or the like,

the improvement which comprises a hollow internally cylindrical shaped and externally frusto-conical shaped stoppering element formed of a temperature cured polyvinyl chloride resin, of a hardness between approximately 60 and 64 Shore-A, an elongation under tension of approximately 400% and a density of approximately 1.2, and including plasticizers stabilized against degradation by heat or ultraviolet light.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said stoppering element is to be utilized external of a conventional hollow cylindrical pouring spout having a smooth external surface,

said stoppering element possessing an internal smooth uniform diameter bore circumscribingly engaging for its full length the smooth external surface of the pouring spout,

the external surface of the stoppering element tapering only a few degrees so as to provide in use a greater diameter at the end more distant from the neck of the bottle or the like.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said stoppering element has a closed end portion to seal the adjacent open end of the hollow tube.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said stoppering element includes a pair of radially variably spaced apart wall members over a major portion of its length, defining therebetween a tapering peripheral void of greater radial extent at the end of the stoppering element more remote from the neck of the bottle or the like,

whereby said stoppering element may be equally firmly inserted more deeply into the neck of the bottle upon progressive closure of the void upon greater penetration of the stoppering element toward the inside of the bottle.

5. A stoppering element of flexible material for closing the neck of a bottle or the like,

comprising an outer wall member having a smooth outer frusto-conical peripheral surface engageable with the neck of a container such as a bottle,

an inner cylindrical wall member with a smooth inner cylindrical surface,

said inner cylindrical member secured to said outer Wall member at only one end of said stoppering element and uniformly variably radially spaced from said outer wall member over a substantial remaining portion of its length,

to define therebetween a variable width peripheral void,

whereby said stoppering element may be inserted more deeply into the neck of a container upon progressive approach of said adjacent tapered and cylindrical surfaces of said stoppering element.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein,

said inner cylindrical wall member has a closed end at the remaining end of said stoppering element, and of greater thickness than that of the cylindrical wall member to which it is secured,

and said outer Wall member possesses a stiifening bead fixed to the outer periphery of its free end adjacent the closed end of the inner cylindrical wall member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,849,739 9/58 Dresden 2l547 2,918,167 12/59 Lowen 21573 2,931,230 4/60 Lowery 2l5--47 3,019,932 2/62 Singiser 215-47 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR CLOSING THE NECK OF A MATERIAL CONTAINING BOTTLE OR THE LIKE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A HOLLOW INTERNALLY CYLINDRICAL SHAPED AND EXTERNALLY FRUSTO-CONICAL SHAPED STOPPERING ELEMENT FORMED OF A TEMPERATURE CURED POLYVINYL CHLORIDE RESIN, OF A HARDNESS BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 60 AND 64 SHORE-A, AN ELONGATION UNDER TENSION OF APPROXIMATELY 400% AND A DENSITY OF APPROXIMATELY 1.2, AND INCLUDING PLASTICIZERS STABILIZED AGAINST DEGRADATION BY HEAT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT. 